Control mechanism for head sections



March 26, 1929; J. MARTIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HEAD SECTIONS Filed May 5, 1927 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MnRTIN, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR To UNiTEI) STATES CABINET BED so, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A coRPoRATm on NEW YORK.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR E nsEcTroNs.

Application filed May 5, 1927. Serial No. 189,027.

This invention relates in general tocontrol mechanism for the head sections of couches, couch beds and the like, and more especially to control mechanism operable to cause such head sections to be lowered in a step by step action.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to provide an improved control mechanism operable to control the movement of head sections for couches and'the like whereby the sudden lowering of the head section from its highest position to its lowest 'position is absolutely prevented, whereby a gradual lowering in a step by step action is insured, and whereby the head section is always under control.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is a fragmental side elevation partly in section of a couch bed equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a part of the control mechanism detached.

In the embodiment illustrated, there is provided a frame A having end bars 1 and 2 and side bars 3 and 1 connected to. one an- 7 other. To said frame A, there is fixed a spring composed of a wire framework5 supported by spiral springs'fi extending from the foot end of the couch defined by the end bar 2 up to the space occupied by the head section frame B. The frame A is suitably connected to the end frames 7 and 8 in the usualway.

The head section frame B has two side rails 9 composed of angle iron, the horizontal portions of which are adapted to rest on the upper surfaces of the side bars 3 and 4 when the head section is located in its lowermost position. The rails 9 are connected to one another by the cross bar 10. To this frame B there is fixed a spring composed of a wire framework 11 mounted on spiral springs 12 in the usual way. To the inner sides of the bars 9, about midway of their length, the links I 13 are pivotally connected at one of their ends, their other ends being pivotally connected to the side bars 3 and 4, as shown in Fig. 2. As the head section B is raised and lowered, it swings about its pivotal connections with the links 13, and is slidably mounted at its inner end by contact of theinner ends of the bars 9 on the side bars 3'and 4. This inner end of the head section B is confined in its slidable movement by the pins 14 at the lower ends of the bars 9 which extend under the horizontal, portions of the angle bars 3 and 4, as shown in Fig. 1.

' For controlling the inclination of the head section B, the mechanism now to be described is provided. A cross bar 15 is connected to the angle bars 3 and 4 and extends from one to the other'as shown in Fig. 2. This bar 15 is connected to the end bar 1 by the fixed toothed bar 16, which is provided in the present instance with three toothed recesses forming three vertically extending shoulders 17,

18 and 19 and three inclined surfaces 20,21

and 22. The bar 16 is also provided with two inclined slots 23 and 24 inclining in the same direction as the surfaces 20, 21 and 22, that end bar 1, but preferably at a more acute angle.

is, downwardly in a direction away from the V Adjacent to the bar 16, there is provided a slidable toothed bar 25 having pins 26 and 27 traveling in theslots 23 and 24 respectively. The bar 25 is also provided with three recesses, forming three vertically ex tending shoulders 28, 29 and 30 and three inclined surfaces 31, 32 and 33 respectively also inc-lining in the same direction as the surfaces 20, 21 and 22. The toothed formations of the bars 16 and 25 arepositioned relative to one another so'that when the pins 26 and 27 are disposed in the lower-ends of the slots 23 and .24, the upper ends of the shoulders. 28, 29 and 30 will substantially register with the lower ends of the shoulders 17 18 and 19 respectively, and when the pins are in the upper'ends of the slots 23 and24, the lower ends of the shoulders 28, 29 and 30 register substantially withthe upper ends of the shoulders 17, 1B and 19 as shown in Fig. 3.

The bar 25 is provided with a flange 2 5 to which the handle "34' is connected, such handle extending through the enlarged opening formed in. the end bar 1, as shown in Fig. 1, and terminating on the outside of the bar 1 in a looped handle member 341.

To the cross bar 10 is'secured a bracket 35 having tongues 36 and 36 provided with orifices to receive the hooked ends 37 and 38 of the U-shaped rod 39, constituting anchor ing means for the head section, the intermediate portion of which is adapted to cooperate with the shoulder portions 17 18 and 19, and 28, 29 and 30. For yieldably maintaining the intermediate portion of the rod 39 in engagement with such shoulder portions, there is provided the spring 40 connecting such intermediate portion with the lower end of the projection 41 secured to the cross bar 15.

In the operation of the device, the head section may be raised in the usual way by engaging the outer end of the head section and merely raising it to the height desired and then releasing it, whereupon the bail 39 will engage that shoulder on the bar 16' which is nearest and thereby support the head section in such raised position. When it is thereupon desired to lower the head section, it is then necessary to pull out the handle 3%. 'lho handle can only be pulled out one notch or tooth at a time, the bail being confined in its movement to move from one tooth to the next, and not being again released until the handle 34 has been drawn out a succeeding time.

It is obvious that Various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a frame, of head section, links for pivotal'ly connecting said head section to said frame, means for guiding the inner end of said head section in slidable relation to said frame, a toothed bar secured. to said frame, a second toothed bar slidahly mounted relative to said fixed toothed b: v anchoring means pivotally connected to said head section and operatively engaging said toothed bars, and means for recipri'icatinn' said slidable bar to cause said anchorii means to travel in a step by step motion grad-- ually to lower said head section.

2. The combination with a frame, of a head section, links for pivotally connecting said head section to said frame, means for guiding the inner end of said head section in slidable relation to said frame, a toothed bar secured to said frame, a second toothed bar slidably mounted adjacent to said fixed toothed bar, a bail pivotally coni'iected to the in'ner end of said head section and cooperating with the teeth of said toothed bars, means for reciprocating said slidable bar to raise said bail out of engageniient with said fixed toothed bar and temporarily anchoring said bail by one of the teeth of said slidable toothed bar,.and means for causin said bail to op pose the action of said slidahleliar so that upon the release of said slidable bar, said bail will immediately fall into engagement with the succeeding tooth on said fixed toothed bar.

3. The combination with a frame, of a head section, links for pivotally connecting said head section to said frame, means for guiding the inner end of said head section in slidable relation to said frame, a toothed bar seend of said head section and cooperating with theteeth of said toothed bars, means for reciprocating said slidable bar to raise said bail outof engagement with said fixed toe-tried bar and temporarily anchoring said had by one of the teeth of said slidable toothed bar, and a spring connecting said bail to said frame to cause said bail to oppose the action of said slidable bar so that upon the release of said slidable bar, said bail will immediately fall into engagement with the succeeding tooth onv said lined toothed'bar.

a, The combination with a frame, of a head section, links pivotally connected at one end of said frame and at the other end to the mid way portion of said head section, means for guiding the inner end of said head section in slidable relation to said frame, a toothed bar secured to said frame, a second toothed bar slidably mounted relatively to said fixed toothed bar, anchoring means pivotally connected to said head section and operatively engaging said toothed bars and means for reciprocating said slida'ble bar to cause said anchoring means to travel in a step by step motion. gradually to lower said head section.

5. The combination with a frame, of a head section, links for pivotally' connecting said head section and operatively engaging said toothed bars, and a handle connected to said slidable toothed'bar and slidably mounted in said frame and operable to reciprocate said slidable bar to cause said anchoring means to travel in a step by step motion gradi'ially to lower said head section.

6. The combination with a frame, of a head section, links for pivotally connecting said head section to said frame, means for guiding the inner end of said head section in slidable relation to said frame, a toothed bar secured to said frame and having'inclined slots there in, a second toothed bar having pins extending into the slots of said fixed toothed bar, anchoring means pivotally connected to said head section and operatively engaging said toothed bars, and means for reciproca ing said slidable bar to cause thesame to raise due' to its pin and slot connection with said fixed bar thereby to cause said anchoring means to travel in a step by step action gradually to lower said head section.

JOSEPH MARTIN, 

